DANIEL 4 – Including Daniel 3:31-33, as a prologue to chapter 4,
and a summing-up of meaning for miraculous events in Chapter 3.
(Updates to the font sizes and the addition of cantillation markers is in progress)
Daniel 3:31
נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר מַלְכָּ֗א
“Nebuchadnezzar the king:
לְֽכָל־עַֽמְמַיָּ֞א אֻמַיָּ֧א וְלִשָּׁנַיָּ֛א דִּֽי־דארין דָיְרִ֥ין בְּכָל־אַרְעָ֖א
To all the people groups, the nations and the language groups
that are dwelling on Earth,
שְׁלָמְכ֥וֹן יִשְׂגֵּֽא׃
Let your peace be multiplied!”
Daniel 3:32
אָֽתַיָּא֙ וְתִמְהַיָּ֔א דִּ֚י עֲבַ֣ד עִמִּ֔י אֱלָהָ֖א עליא עִלָּאָ֑ה
“The signs and the miracles
that the Most High God has done with me involved,
שְׁפַ֥ר קֽ͏ָדָמַ֖י לְהַחֲוָיָֽה׃
It is my good pleasure to declare;”
Daniel 3:33
אָת֙וֹהִי֙ כְּמָ֣ה רַבְרְבִ֔ין
“How great are His signs!
וְתִמְה֖וֹהִי כְּמָ֣ה תַקִּיפִ֑ין
And how mighty are His miracles!
מַלְכוּתֵהּ֙ מַלְכ֣וּת עָלַ֔ם
His Kingdom is an Eternal Kingdom,
וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֖הּ עִם־דָּ֥ר וְדָֽר׃
And His Overrulership, with each generation!”
Daniel 4:1
אֲנָ֣ה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר
” I Nebuchadnezzar,
שְׁלֵ֤ה הֲוֵית֙ בְּבֵיתִ֔י וְרַעְנַ֖ן בְּהֵיכְלִֽי׃
I was happily at ease in my palatial house,
and flourishing at my palace;”
Daniel 4:2
חֵ֥לֶם חֲזֵ֖ית וִֽידַחֲלִנַּ֑נִי
“I saw a dream,
and it would cause me alarm;—
וְהַרְהֹרִין֙ עַֽל־מִשְׁכְּבִ֔י
Furthermore the foreboding-imaginings while upon my bed,
וְחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשִׁ֖י יְבַהֲלֻנַּֽנִי׃
And the visions of my head, they would terrify me!”
Daniel 4:3
וּמִנִּי֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם
“Consequently from me a command was issued,
לְהַנְעָלָ֣ה קָֽדָמַ֔י לְכֹ֖ל חַכִּימֵ֣י בָבֶ֑ל
To bring in before me
all of the wise men of Babylon,
דִּֽי־פְשַׁ֥ר חֶלְמָ֖א יְהֽוֹדְעֻנַּֽנִי׃
That they should let me know the interpretation of the dream;”
Daniel 4:4
בֵּאדַ֣יִן עללין עָלִּ֗ין
“They entered promptly,—
חַרְטֻמַיָּא֙ אָֽשְׁפַיָּ֔א כשדיא כַּשְׂדָּאֵ֖י וְגָזְרַיָּ֑א
the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans,
and so the supernatural practitioners;
וְחֶלְמָ֗א אָמַ֤ר אֲנָה֙ קֳדָ֣מֵיה֔וֹן
Then I was relating the dream before them,
וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ לָא־מְהוֹדְעִ֥ין לִֽי׃
But they were not causing me to know the interpretation;”
Daniel 4:5
וְעַ֣ד אָחֳרֵ֡ין עַל֩ קָֽדָמַ֨י דָּנִיֵּ֜אל
“And lastly Daniel entered before me,
דִּֽי־שְׁמֵ֤הּ בֵּלְטְּשַׁאצַּר֙ כְּשֻׁ֣ם אֱלָהִ֔י
whose name is Belteshazzar
according to the name of my god,
וְדִ֛י רֽוּחַ־אֱלָהִ֥ין קַדִּישִׁ֖ין בֵּ֑הּ
And whom, in him, is a Spirit of Holy Gods;”
וְחֶלְמָ֖א קָֽדָמ֥וֹהִי אַמְרֵֽת׃
Then I related the dream in front of him;”
Daniel 4:6
בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֮ רַ֣ב חַרְטֻמַיָּא֒
“ ‘O Belteshazzar, preeminent of the magicians,
דִּ֣י ׀ אֲנָ֣ה יִדְעֵ֗ת דִּ֠י ר֣וּחַ אֱלָהִ֤ין קַדִּישִׁין֙ בָּ֔ךְ
Whom I know where a Spirit of Holy Gods is with you,
וְכָל־רָ֖ז לָא־אָנֵ֣ס לָ֑ךְ
And any mystery is not going to subdue you;
חֶזְוֵ֨י חֶלְמִ֧י דִֽי־חֲזֵ֛ית וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ אֱמַֽר׃
The visuals of my dream that I saw, and it’s interpretation, you explain!’ ”
Daniel 4:7
וְחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשִׁ֖י עַֽל־מִשְׁכְּבִ֑י
‘ “Now the visions of my head, upon my bed:
חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֔ית
I was looking,
וַאֲל֥וּ אִילָ֛ן בְּג֥וֹא אַרְעָ֖א וְרוּמֵ֥הּ שַׂגִּֽיא׃
Then behold – a tree in the midst of the earth,
and the height of it was massive!’ ”
Daniel 4:8
רְבָ֥ה אִֽילָנָ֖א וּתְקִ֑ף
‘ “The tree had grown,
and had become strong;
וְרוּמֵהּ֙ יִמְטֵ֣א לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א
Now the height of it was reaching to the heavens,
וַחֲזוֹתֵ֖הּ לְס֥וֹף כָּל־אַרְעָֽא׃
And it’s visibility, to the end of the whole earth;’ ”
Daniel 4:9
עָפְיֵ֤הּ שַׁפִּיר֙ וְאִנְבֵּ֣הּ שַׂגִּ֔יא
‘ “It’s leafage was beautiful
and it’s fruit abundant,
וּמָז֨וֹן לְכֹ֖לָּא־בֵ֑הּ
And nourishment for all was in it;
תְּחֹת֜וֹהִי תַּטְלֵ֣ל ׀ חֵיוַ֣ת בָּרָ֗א
Underneath, it would provide shade
for the wild beasts of the field,
וּבְעַנְפ֙וֹהִי֙ ידרון יְדוּרָן֙ צִפֲּרֵ֣י שְׁמַיָּ֔א
And in its branches
the birds of heaven would dwell,
וּמִנֵּ֖הּ יִתְּזִ֥ין כָּל־בִּשְׂרָֽא׃
And so from it, all flesh would subsist;’ ”
Daniel 4:10
חָזֵה הֲוֵית בְּחֶזְוֵי רֵאשִׁי עַֽל־מִשְׁכְּבִי
In the visions of my head upon my bed I was looking,
וַאֲלוּ עִיר וְקַדִּישׁ מִן־שְׁמַיָּא נָחִֽת׃
and behold, a Watcher, namely a Holy One,
descending from the heavens
Daniel 4:11
קָרֵא בְחַיִל וְכֵן אָמַר
calling in a strong voice and saying
גֹּדּוּ אִֽילָנָא וְקַצִּצוּ עַנְפֹוהִי אַתַּרוּ עָפְיֵהּ
“Hew ye down the tree and cut away it’s branches, strip off it’s leaves
וּבַדַּרוּ אִנְבֵּהּ תְּנֻד חֵֽיוְתָא מִן־תַּחְתֹּוהִי
and scatter it’s fruit. Let the beast flee from under it
וְצִפְּרַיָּא מִן־עַנְפֹֽוהִי׃
and the birds out of it’s branches:
DANIEL 4:12
בְּרַם עִקַּר שָׁרְשֹׁוהִי בְּאַרְעָא שְׁבֻקוּ
Nevertheless, leave the stump of it’s roots in the earth
וּבֶֽאֱסוּר דִּֽי־פַרְזֶל וּנְחָשׁ בְּדִתְאָא דִּי בָרָא
and also with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field
וּבְטַל שְׁמַיָּא יִצְטַבַּע
and let it be moistened by the dew of the skies
וְעִם־חֵיוְתָא חֲלָקֵהּ בַּעֲשַׂב אַרְעָֽא׃
and it’s portion be with the beast, in the grass of the earth.
Daniel 4:13
לִבְבֵהּ מִן־אֱנֹושָׁא יְשַׁנֹּון
Let them make his heart different from human
וּלְבַב חֵיוָה יִתְיְהִב לֵהּ
and let a mind of a wild animal be given him
וְשִׁבְעָה עִדָּנִין יַחְלְפוּן עֲלֹֽוהִי׃
and let seven years pass over him.
Daniel 4:14
בִּגְזֵרַת עִירִין פִּתְגָמָא וּמֵאמַר קַדִּישִׁין שְׁאֵֽלְתָא
The Word is by decree of the Watchers
and the matter a command of the Holy Ones
עַד־דִּבְרַת דִּי יִנְדְּעוּן חַיַּיָּא דִּֽי־שַׁלִּיט עִלָּיָא
to the end that the living may know that the Most High has rulership
בְּמַלְכוּת אֱנֹושָׁא וּלְמַן־דִּי יִצְבֵּא יִתְּנִנַּהּ
in the kingdom of mankind and he can give it to whoever he wishes
וּשְׁפַל אֲנָשִׁים יְקִים עֲלַיַּהּ
and lowly men he can set up over it.
Daniel 4:15
דְּנָה חֶלְמָא חֲזֵית אֲנָה מַלְכָּא נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר
This is the dream I king Nebuchadnezzar saw
וְאַנְתָּה בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר פִּשְׁרֵא אֱמַר
and you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the dream
כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּי כָּל־חַכִּימֵי מַלְכוּתִי
because all the wise in my kingdom
לָֽא־יָכְלִין פִּשְׁרָא לְהֹודָעֻתַנִי וְאַנְתָּה כָּהֵל
didn’t have ability to make known the interpretation to me, and you can,
דִּי רֽוּחַ־אֱלָהִין קַדִּישִׁין בָּֽךְ׃
in that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you!’
Daniel 4:16
אֱדַיִן דָּֽנִיֵּאל דִּֽי־שְׁמֵהּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר אֶשְׁתֹּומַם
Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was then troubled
כְּשָׁעָה חֲדָה וְרַעְיֹנֹהִי יְבַהֲלֻנֵּהּ
about one hour, and his thoughts alarmed him.
עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר
The king, responding and saying: ‘O Belteshazzar,
חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵא אַֽל־יְבַהֲלָךְ
let not the dream and the interpretation alarm you’
עָנֵה בֵלְטְשַׁאצַּר וְאָמַר
Belteshazzar answering and saying:
מָרְאִי חֶלְמָא לְשָׂנְאַיִךְ וּפִשְׁרֵהּ לְעָרַיִךְ
‘O my lord, the dream for those hating you
and it’s interpretation for your enemies!
Daniel 4:17
אִֽילָנָא דִּי חֲזַיְתָ דִּי רְבָה וּתְקִף וְרוּמֵהּ
The tree that you saw which became great and grew strong, and it’s height
יִמְטֵא לִשְׁמַיָּא וַחֲזֹותֵהּ לְכָל־אַרְעָֽא׃
would have reached into Heaven and it’s visibility to the whole Earth
Daniel 4:18
וְעָפְיֵהּ שַׁפִּיר וְאִנְבֵּהּ שַׂגִּיא וּמָזֹון לְכֹלָּא־בֵהּ
and it’s foliage was beautiful and it’s fruit abundant, and food for all was in it;
תְּחֹתֹוהִי תְּדוּר חֵיוַת בָּרָא
the beast of the field could dwell under it
וּבְעַנְפֹוהִי יִשְׁכְּנָן צִפֲּרֵי שְׁמַיָּֽא׃
and on it’s branches the birds of the skies could settle:
Daniel 4:19
אַנְתָּה־הוּא מַלְכָּא דִּי רְבַית וּתְקֵפְתְּ וּרְבוּתָךְ רְבָת
That is you, O king, for you became great and mighty
and your greatness has grown
וּמְטָת לִשְׁמַיָּא וְשָׁלְטָנָךְ לְסֹוף אַרְעָֽא׃
and reaches toward heaven
and your sovereignty towards the end of the Earth
Daniel 4:20
וְדִי חֲזָה מַלְכָּא עִיר וְקַדִּישׁ
And whereas the king saw a Watcher, namely a Holy One
נָחִת מִן־שְׁמַיָּא וְאָמַר גֹּדּוּ אִֽילָנָא וְחַבְּלוּהִי
descending from Heaven and saying ‘Hew down the tree and destroy it
בְּרַם עִקַּר שָׁרְשֹׁוהִי בְּאַרְעָא שְׁבֻקוּ
but leave the stump of his roots in the earth
וּבֶאֱסוּר דִּֽי־פַרְזֶל וּנְחָשׁ בְּדִתְאָא דִּי בָרָא
moreover with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field;
וּבְטַל שְׁמַיָּא יִצְטַבַּע וְעִם־חֵיוַת בָּרָא חֲלָקֵהּ
and let him be wet by the dew of the skies
and his lot with the beast of the field
עַד דִּֽי־שִׁבְעָה עִדָּנִין יַחְלְפוּן עֲלֹֽוהִי׃
until seven years shall pass over him’
Daniel 4:21
דְּנָה פִשְׁרָא מַלְכָּא וּגְזֵרַת עִלָּיָא הִיא
This is the interpretation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High
דִּי מְטָת עַל־מַרְאִי מַלְכָּֽא׃
that has arrived concerning my lord the king:
Daniel 4:22
וְלָךְ טָֽרְדִין מִן־אֲנָשָׁא
Namely, driving you from mankind
וְעִם־חֵיוַת בָּרָא לֶהֱוֵה מְדֹרָךְ
that your dwelling shall be with the beast of the field
וְעִשְׂבָּא כְתֹורִין לָךְ יְטַֽעֲמוּן
and they will make you eat grass like oxen
וּמִטַּל שְׁמַיָּא לָךְ מְצַבְּעִין
also making you wet by the dew of the skies
וְשִׁבְעָה עִדָּנִין יַחְלְפוּן עֲלַיִךְ
then seven years shall pass over you
עַד דִּֽי־תִנְדַּע דִּֽי־שַׁלִּיט עִלָּיָא
until you will know that the Most High has mastery
בְּמַלְכוּת אֲנָשָׁא וּלְמַן־דִּי יִצְבֵּא יִתְּנִנַּֽהּ׃
in the kingdom of mankind and He will give it to whomsoever He wishes.
Daniel 4:23
וְדִי אֲמַרוּ לְמִשְׁבַּק עִקַּר שָׁרְשֹׁוהִי דִּי אִֽילָנָא
Moreover, in that they commanded
to leave the stump of that tree’s roots:
מַלְכוּתָךְ לָךְ קַיָּמָה מִן־דִּי תִנְדַּע
the kingdom will be stable for you, after you recognize
דִּי שַׁלִּטִן שְׁמַיָּֽא׃
that Heaven has mastery.
Daniel 4:24
לָהֵן מַלְכָּא מִלְכִּי יִשְׁפַּר עֲלַיִךְ
Therefore, O king, may my counsel please you:
וַחֲטָיָךְ בְּצִדְקָה פְרֻק
Break off your sins by right-doing
וַעֲוָיָתָךְ בְּמִחַן עֲנָיִן
and your iniquities by having mercy on poor persons
הֵן תֶּהֱוֵא אַרְכָה לִשְׁלֵוְתָֽךְ׃
if it will be a lengthening for your tranquillity.’
Daniel 4:25
כֹּלָּא מְּטָא עַל־נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּֽא׃ פ
All this came upon Nebuchadnezzar the king.
Daniel 4:26
לִקְצָת יַרְחִין תְּרֵֽי־עֲשַׂר
At the end of twelve moons,
עַל־הֵיכַל מַלְכוּתָא דִּי בָבֶל מְהַלֵּךְ הֲוָֽה׃
he was walking about above the palace of the kingdom of Babylon
Daniel 4:27
עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר
the king speaking up and saying
הֲלָא דָא־הִיא בָּבֶל רַבְּתָא
“Is this not that great Babylon
דִּֽי־אֲנָה בֱנַיְתַהּ לְבֵית מַלְכוּ
that I, I did build it, for the residence of MY kingdom
בִּתְקַף חִסְנִי וְלִיקָר הַדְרִֽי׃
by the might of MY power and for the honour of MY majesty!”
Daniel 4:28
עֹוד מִלְּתָא בְּפֻם מַלְכָּא
The word was still in the king’s mouth.
קָל מִן־שְׁמַיָּא נְפַל
A voice fell from Heaven:
לָךְ אָֽמְרִין נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא
“To you they are saying, O Nebuchadnezzar the king:
מַלְכוּתָה עֲדָת מִנָּֽךְ׃
‘ The royalty has passed away from you
Daniel 4:29
וּמִן־אֲנָשָׁא לָךְ טָֽרְדִין וְֽעִם־חֵיוַת בָּרָא מְדֹרָךְ
and they are driving you from mankind
so your dwelling is with the beast of the field.
עִשְׂבָּא כְתֹורִין לָךְ יְטַעֲמוּן
They will feed you grass like oxen
וְשִׁבְעָה עִדָּנִין יַחְלְפוּן עֲלַיִךְ
and seven years will pass over you,
עַד דִּֽי־תִנְדַּע דִּֽי־שַׁלִּיט עִלָּיָא
until you shall know that the Most High has mastery
בְּמַלְכוּת אֲנָשָׁא וּלְמַן־דִּי יִצְבֵּא יִתְּנִנַּֽהּ׃
in the kingdom of mankind and He will give it to whomsoever He wishes.”
Daniel 4:30
בַּהּ־שַׁעֲתָא מִלְּתָא סָפַת עַל־נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר
At the same time the thing was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar:
וּמִן־אֲנָשָׁא טְרִיד וְעִשְׂבָּא כְתֹורִין יֵאכֻל
Namely, driven from mankind, that he will eat grass like oxen
וּמִטַּל שְׁמַיָּא גִּשְׁמֵהּ יִצְטַבַּע
and from the moisture of the skies his body will be wet,
עַד דִּי שַׂעְרֵהּ כְּנִשְׁרִין רְבָה וְטִפְרֹוהִי כְצִפְּרִֽין׃
until his hair grows like eagles feathers and his nails like birds claws.
Daniel 4:31
וְלִקְצָת יֹֽומַיָּה אֲנָה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר
And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar,
עַיְנַי לִשְׁמַיָּא נִטְלֵת וּמַנְדְּעִי עֲלַי יְתוּב
I lifted up my eyes to Heaven and my understanding would come back to me.
וּלְעִלָּיָא בָּרְכֵת וּלְחַי עָלְמָא שַׁבְּחֵת וְהַדְּרֵת
Then I blessed the Most High and I praised and glorified the Living Eternal One
דִּי שָׁלְטָנֵהּ שָׁלְטָן עָלַם
Whose Dominion is an Everlasting Sovereignty
וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ עִם־דָּר וְדָֽר׃
and His Kingly Authority is with every generation.
Daniel 4:32
וְכָל־דָּאֲרֵי אַרְעָא כְּלָה חֲשִׁיבִין
And all the inhabitants of Earth are reckoned as nothing,
וּֽכְמִצְבְּיֵהּ עָבֵד בְּחֵיל שְׁמַיָּא וְדָאֲרֵי אַרְעָא
and he is doing according to His will
among the army of heaven and the inhabitants of Earth
וְלָא אִיתַי דִּֽי־יְמַחֵא בִידֵהּ
and there is none who can strike at His hand
וְיֵאמַר לֵהּ מָה עֲבַֽדְתְּ׃
and say ‘what have you done?’
Daniel 4:33
בֵּהּ־זִמְנָא מַנְדְּעִי יְתוּב עֲלַי
At the time that my understanding would return unto me
וְלִיקַר מַלְכוּתִי הַדְרִי וְזִוִי יְתוּב עֲלַי
and so for the honour of my kingdom,
my glory and splendour would return unto me,
וְלִי הַדָּֽבְרַי וְרַבְרְבָנַי יְבַעֹון
and my counsellors and my nobles would resort to me;
וְעַל־מַלְכוּתִי הָתְקְנַת וּרְבוּ יַתִּירָה הוּסְפַת לִֽי׃
then regarding my reign,
it was made firm and exceeding greatness was added to me.
Daniel 4:34
כְּעַן אֲנָה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מְשַׁבַּח וּמְרֹומֵם וּמְהַדַּר לְמֶלֶךְ שְׁמַיָּא
I Nebuchadnezzar am now praising
and exalting and glorifying the King of Heaven,
דִּי כָל־מַעֲבָדֹוהִי קְשֹׁט וְאֹרְחָתֵהּ דִּין
for all His works are Truth and His ways are Right:
וְדִי מַהְלְכִין בְּגֵוָה יָכִל לְהַשְׁפָּלָֽה׃ פ
Indeed those who are walking in pride he is able to make humble.”
The Fall of Babylon (Chapter 5)
Daniel 4 Aramaic –
from Hebrew Audio Bible – Academy of Ancient Languages